COMMUNITY projects across Basingstoke are set to receive a cash boost from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Tadley Youth Centre, the Woolton Hill Church Hall, Viables Community Centre and St John’s Primary School will receive a share of £400,000 of funding from the borough council’s Local Infrastructure Fund.

In addition, initial funding will be provided for a centre manager at the Ridgeway Community Centre, in Blackdown Close, Buckskin.

As reported by The Gazette in December, the borough council receives bank-boosting funds from central Government as part of the New Homes Bonus scheme.

The scheme awards money to local authorities for a six-year period, allocating funds yearly, with the borough receiving £3million for 2014-15.

The Local Infrastructure Fund aims to help deliver “larger ticket” facilities and infrastructure improvements of over £25,000 and the projects have to make a significant and long-lasting impact on the local community. However, applications for funding below £25,000 can also be considered.

The Tadley and District Community Association’s new youth centre building, in Newchurch Road, will mean that young people in Tadley will have a facility to meet up in after being awarded up to £201,200 from the borough council.

Improvement work to the Woolton Hill Church Hall, in East Woodhay, which is due to be completed by the end of the year, will mean that increased meeting and event space will be available following an award of £10,200.

Up to £75,000 was awarded to the Viables Community Centre, in The Harrow Way, Basingstoke to improve broadband provision and to install new software on computers at the centre.

A new eco-library at St John’s Church of England Primary School, in Kingsmill Road, Cranbourne, will also provide a school and out-of-hours community space for use by pupils, parents, community groups and the Hampshire Music Service after it was given up to £75,000 of funding.

Up to £54,100 was awarded to the Ridgeway Community Centre, in Buckskin, to fund a new centre manager in a bid to expand the services on offer at the centre.

Councillor Ranil Jayawardena, deputy leader of the borough council, said: “The first round of Local Infrastructure awards will benefit a wide range of people living and working in north Hampshire – from community groups to individuals of all ages.

“These one-off awards will enable the community organisations to work with their local borough councillors and local residents to make a significant, long lasting impact in their area.”